Game schedules, field assignments and lodging for traveling teams has been finalized for the 2015 Regions Border Classic Soccer Invitational, a three-day tournament being hosted by Greenbrier High School, starting Thursday at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans.

HOTELS: Organizers partnered with Hilton Hotels and Resorts to secure rooms at negotiated rates for the 28 teams and more than 600 players from Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina slated to compete in the 44-game fundraiser for Greenbrier’s soccer program.

As her daughter Caroline, a senior captain for Augusta Prep’s girls varsity soccer team, signed a national letter of intent Friday to play for Mercer, the mother reflected on all the times she woke up at dawn to watch her daughter play in tournaments across the Southeast.

The adventure began at age 4 for the YMCA and then progressed to regional games for club teams, Augusta Arsenal and South Carolina United Mount Pleasant in Charleston.

Over the weekend, Georgia Southern pulled off a three-game sweep of the University of Georgia.

UGA came into the series ranked No. 18 in the country, but dropped the first game 4-3, then were shut out 1-0, before losing the finale 4-3 as well.

Columbia County has had an incredible history with the Georgia Southern baseball team going back to the late 80s. Four members of Evans’ first state title team in 1988 went on to play for the Eagles. That group included Buddy Holder, Ben Hayslip and Craig Cassedy, but was certainly led by Todd Greene.

Any player who gets to play not one, but two, sports in college would be thankful for such a unique opportunity.

In Tristen Real’s case, there is an even deeper appreciation.

“It actually means a lot because I had to take off a year from sports because of medical conditions,” the Lakeside senior two-sport athlete said. “I just came back in August and I got my offers in August, so it was actually really amazing. I’m so grateful and so happy to have them.”

On Friday, Real signed a letter of intent to play soccer and basketball at LaGrange (Ga.) College.

Two Columbia County varsity basketball programs had their playoff hopes dashed recently in the first round of postseason play, wrapping up a disappointing ending to what coaches described as a tough season.

Augusta Preparatory Day School’s girls’ varsity basketball team lost 56-34 to The Heritage School during the first round of the Georgia Independent School Association 4AAA tournament on Feb. 24 in Newnan, Ga.